The District Court in Oulu has sentenced a 21-year old man to four years in prison for his part in the sexual abuse of a 13-year old girl.

The immigrant from Afghanistan is the first man to be convicted out of a group of eight facing trial for the sexual abuse of the same girl during a five month period last year. Their cases are being handled individually, with trials for the other suspects likely to begin over the summer.

Police say all eight men are asylum seekers or refugees and some already received their Finnish citizenship.

On Thursday, the court found the 21-year old man guilty of aggravated rape and aggravated sexual abuse of the girl. He must also pay €22,000 compensation to his victim.

Her family are expected to appeal the sentence which they consider too lenient.

Oulu sex abuse allegations

Allegations of sexual abuse against girls first came to light in Oulu last autumn, with police making arrests in December.

It sparked protests in the city from anti-immigrant groups and attracted the attention of far right anti-Muslim activists from England who traveled to Oulu to highlight what they said was Finland’s rape gang crisis.

Police in Oulu have warned parents to be more vigilant who their children are speaking to on the internet, after concerns that some alleged victims in the various cases were grooming online.